Heated cover used to stop football pitch freezing

A heated covering has been loaned to Luton Town Football Club to allow its televised Saturday fixture with local rivals Stevenage to go ahead.

The equipment has been borrowed from the English Football League (EFL) and comes after its game at Doncaster Rovers on Sunday was postponed due to a frozen pitch at the Eco-Power Stadium.

Stevenage's home game on Sunday against Leyton Orient was also called off due to the weather.

The cover works by circulating heated air beneath it to prevent the pitch from freezing, and will be in place until Saturday morning, ahead of the Sky Bet League One game at 12:30 GMT, a club spokesman said.

It has been in place since Monday evening.

The EFL said in order to "safeguard" earlier televised kick-offs between November and March, a pitch cover was loaned to clubs to "protect against waterlogging and frozen pitches".

"In consultation with EFL and host club a decision to activate callout based upon weather forecast, pitch history, conditions, shaded areas, likely temperatures, wind chill is made between all parties", it said.

It was also used to ensure Lincoln City's 5-2 home win against Peterborough went ahead.

The Met Office - the UK's national weather service - has issued a yellow warning for heavy snow for parts of the East of England from Thursday evening until midday on Friday.

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